How to build a great parent-teacher relationship for your child’s success.
Building a good parent-teacher relationship with your child’s teachers is the most important key to making the school year a success. If communication channels are open and amicable, if everyone is on the same page and working together, your child is likely to have a more successful and enjoyable year!
Maintaining a professional relationship that is characterized by grace, kindness and support is crucial!
These are some important tips for how to work with your child’s teacher effectively in the new school year!
But first…
My experience of parent-teacher relationships as a teacher and mom
I’ve been a teacher for 9 years, and I’ve seen a fair number of parents along the way! Some of them are amazing! I can name a few of them off the top of my head right now. That’s the kind of impact they made on me!
You know, from the moment you meet them, that they are behind you 100%. They believe you are an expert in this field; they trust that you are the professional you claim to be. You know they will do whatever it takes to help their child succeed, even if they have to make sacrifices. They support you and encourage you. Whether their kiddos are the “angels” or love to take on that label of being “the naughty / noisy / lazy kid”, you know you’re on the same side and want this child of theirs to become everything they’re designed to be!
Do you know how awesome it is to have that kind of parent-teacher relationship!?
As a mom, I have two littles in preschool. And I know how much it means to me to be able to communicate easily and openly with their teachers!
So it’s been a priority for my husband and I to be as involved as we can, to be supportive and encouraging and make sure that we prioritize this parent-teacher relationship.
(On a side note…Our kids have had INCREDBILE teachers so, it has made all this SO much easier!)
The most important thing to build a good parent-teacher relationship.
Here it is: Remember you’re both on the same side!
Ultimately, just like you Mama, your child’s teacher wants what’s best for your child! And that’s the first step to working together effectively!
You might need to remind yourself of this a few times during the year. Especially when difficult situations arise or uncomfortable conversations must be had. Remembering this will ensure that you find solutions that will keep your child’s progress and well-being at the forefront!
As a bonus, if you take this approach, it’s more difficult for your kids to play you and the teacher off of each other! Teacher said this, Mom said that. If they know you communicate and you’re both on the same side, they’re less likely to take advantage!
First day introductions set the tone.
When you drop off your child on their first day back, if possible, just pop in and say ‘Hi’ and introduce yourself.
Literally though.
First days back are chaotic and your child’s teacher’s focus is on making the kids feel welcome and at home. She might not even remember your name or what you had to say that day, but she’ll remember and appreciate that ‘Suzi’s mom’ popped in to say Hi.
If you can’t pop in, that’s ok! Just send a note with your child or even a quick text message or email.
A simple “Hi, I’m Jackie, Suzi’s mom and we’re looking forward to a great year! If there’s anything you need to talk about through the year, just give me a call or send me a text – we’re here to support you too!” goes a LONG way to building a good parent-teacher relationship.
Set up a meeting within the first few weeks of the term.
This is the perfect opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher a little more deeply than on the first day!
So, give her a few weeks to settle in, learn all the kiddos’ names and get a feel for what each child is like. Then set up a short meeting to chat!
In this meeting, chat about any family info that’s important for her to know. Discuss how your child did last year, what they love, what makes them tick. Let her know what goals your child has set for themselves and what they are most looking forward to.
Ask your child’s teacher how you can be involved in supporting your child better. And then take those things to heart. Be willing to do what it takes to work with her to help your child succeed.
Finally, let her know that you are there to support her. Invite her to feel free to contact you if there are any concerns or if she needs your input in any way.
Be involved in as much as you can.
You’re a busy mom! Whether you are a stay-at-home or working mom, life is hectic!
Being as involved as you can is a great way to build a good parent-teacher relationship and communicate that you’re invested in your child, in their teacher and in the school as a whole.
Go to the school meetings, help with fundraisers. If you can’t be there and physically help, make sure you contribute in some other way.
This also teaches your kids to be committed and involved, to serve and be someone that others can depend on!
Deal with any issues as soon as they arise.
If there are any concerns you have, if issues arise with one of your child’s peers or teachers, if there are things going on at home that impact your child, talk to the teacher about it as soon as possible.
There’s nothing like leaving a concern to fester building up bitterness and resentment. Don’t let it get to that stage!
Sometimes a text message, a quick call or a short meeting can clarify and resolve things chop-chop. The more promptly an issue is raised and dealt with, the happier everyone is and the better the parent-teacher relationships are at the end of it all!
Use the right channels to foster a good parent-teacher relationship.
There are a lot of people involved in your child’s education. Most often there’s a class (homeroom) teacher, subject teachers, head of subjects, head the grade, head of the phase, and the principal.
If there’s a concern or issue, where do you even start!?
Check with your class teacher what the process is if there is a concern – who your first port-of-call is. Usually it’s her and she’ll put you in touch with anyone else concerned. Sometimes it’s a subject teacher, for example, if your child is struggling with Maths, the first person to go to is the Maths teacher! If you have a problem with the class teacher, you’ll need to contact the head of the grade.
Whatever the channel, respect it and use it. Don’t bypass it. I’ve seen the smallest molehills made into the biggest mountains, when, instead, approaching the person concerned in an open and honest way could have solved the issue or misunderstanding immediately.
A parent-teacher relationship must be characterized by grace.
Here’s the thing. No matter how awesome your child’s teachers are, they are still very much human. Which means they make mistakes, they get tired, they get stressed out, they worry about their own children, they get overwhelmed by the craziness of life, and that giant pile of laundry they just can’t seem to get through. And that’s just their personal lives!
They teach a BUNCH of kids, each with their own struggles and background. They’re concerned about each of those kids: the ones who are excelling and want to do even better, the ‘average’ kids who have no drive or motivation but so much potential, the ones who have a tough home life, the ones who are crippled by anxiety or depression, those who are struggling so much they don’t know how they’re going to get them through the school year.
But your child, your family, is important to that teacher. You have no idea how much! She’s just got a lot going on! So…give her some grace!
The beauty about actively building a good parent-teacher relationship is that the grace often flows both ways. And it flows easily!
Remember “the most important thing”.
The last thing I want to remind you of is that this is all about helping your child succeed this year!
When we have good parent-teacher relationships, our children will be more positive about school and their teachers, they will feel like they have a team of supporters cheering them on, they are more likely to respect and care about their teachers and that will all make for a more successful and enjoyable year!
For everyone! Your child. Their teacher.
And you!
(And we all know, when Mama’s happy, everyone else is happier too! It’s just a fact. Right?)
I would love to connect with you and hear all about your experiences as a mom! And I’d love to include you in this community of Mommies as we support each other and grow together to become the best moms we can be!
Please subscribe to my emailing list here and I’ll make sure I keep you in the loop on all the latest blog posts, freebies and resources!
Other articles you might find useful:
Back to School Jitters – Help your child keep calm and carry on!
How can I help my child improve their marks next year?
How to prepare your child to go back to school after lockdown
